Friday, May 12, 2023

A word about May 12





We remember May 12:

Cold War 1949:    We recall something that happened back in 1949 or the day that the USSR lifted the blockade against West Berlin.  The US and UK broke the blockade with a massive airlift of supplies to keep the citizens fed and warm.  It was one of President Truman's finest moments.   Of course, we also remember the story of the "candy bombers", the pilots who dropped candy to children behind the Iron Curtain.  For more see my post:   "Berlin 1948: Another sad day in the brutal history of communism".

Crime of the century?:   On May 12, 1932, the police found the body of the missing Lindbergh baby.     He was kidnapped on March 1st and many believe that the baby died that same night.  

Hall of Fame:    We remember Lawrence Berra who was born in St. Louis on this day in 1925.  He died in 2015.    Yogi Berra was a great player, a Hall of Famer and 3-time MVP.   He made the AL All Star Team 15 times and played on 10 World Series champions.   Did he really say all of those things?   I don't know but they were great.

1970:   We remember the late Ernie Banks' 500th home run.   Banks is still one of the most popular players ever to wear a major league uniform:   Hall of Fame 19771958 & 1959 NL MVP, 512 HR, 1,636 RBI, 2,583 hits and twice led the NL in HR's.

Baseball:   We remember Felipe Alou who was born in 
The Dominican Republican on this day in 1935.As a player, Alou was one of the most consistent hitters in the National League:  .286, 206 HR, 852 RBI & 2,101 hits.     Alou led the NL twice in hits.   He broke with the Braves in Milwaukee and then had some great years at Atlanta.
As a manager, Alou was 691-717 with the Expos and later the Giants. 

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